The Consortium for the protection of Asiago cheese paves the way for protection of PDOs in China

During FHC China, one of the most important Chinese agrifood exhibitions, the Consortium for the Protection of Asiago Cheese paved the way for increased protection of PDOs by taking action against a series of American products in clear breach of the ASIAGO brand, registered in China.
After being reported by the Consortium, the products of three US companies were removed from the stands during the exhibition.
According to Fiorenzo Rigoni, president of the Consortium: “With their strength, the Consortia are achieving significant success regarding protection, but it is now essential to join forces and obtain aware political recognition of the economic, social and cultural value of PDO products.
The action taken by the Consortium for the Protection of Asiago Cheese against American producers in clear breach of the Asiago PDO brand, registered and protected in China, sets an important precedent.
In 2015, the world export of cheeses to China increased by 46.6%, exceeding a growth of 44% in 2014 and 26% in 2013.
As regards Italy, numbers are still low, but trends indicate a very dynamic market, with a development of almost 17% in the last year - mainly for fresh cheeses - and in which Asiago PDO only started to market its product recently.